Machine for making metal tags.



Patented Feb. |902.

3 Sheets$heet I.

F. C. CRWE. MACHINE FR MAKINGMETAL TAGS.

4(Application mea sept. 2s, 1901;)

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No. 693,24l. Patented Fb. n, |902. f

F. c. cnowE. l MACHINEFR MAKING METAL TAGS.

(Application filed Sept. 23, 1901.) (No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet' 2.

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Y n Patented Feb. n, |902. F. c.. nowE. A MACHINE FR MAKING METAL TAGS.

(Application led Sept. 28, 1901.) v (No Model.) 3 Sheets-#Sheet 3..

- y UNITED j STATES FREDERICK o. OROWE,

PATENT FFICE.

or CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

MAoHiNE FOR MAKINGV wil-:TAL- TAGS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters PatentNo. 693,241, dated February 11, 1902.

' Application tiled September 23,1901. Serial llo. 76.317. (No model.)

.To all whom, t may concern."

Be it known that I, FREDERICK (J. CROWE, a citizen of the United States, 'residing at Chicago, in the county of Gool: and State of Illinois, have invented certain newand useful Improvements in Machines for Making Metal Tags, of which the following is a specification.

The object of this invention'is t-he production of a mechanism for'automatically impressing and cutting metal tags from a ribbon of sheet metal fed continuously to the mechanism.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a side elevation of a tag-making machine embodying the features of my invention. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal vertical section on dotted line 2 2 of Fig. 3. Fig. 3 is a plan view of the machine. Fig. lis a transverse vertical section on dotted line 4. 4 of Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a detail showing the wing-cams on the driveshaft for actuating the cutting-dies. is a longitudinal section through the cuttingdie similar to that of Fig. 2, but on a larger scale than'in said figure. Fig. 7 is a transverse section through the lower cutting-die on dotted line 7 7 of Fig. 6. Fig. 8 is a plan view of the. lower cutting-die shown in Fig. 7. Fig.v 9 is a sectionalview through the-forward adjustable guide on dotted line 9 9 of Fig. 3. Fig. lOisa vertical section on dotted line 10 10 of Fig. 3. Fig. 1l isa transverse vertical section through the'shear-actuating arm on dotted line'll l1 of Fig. 2. Fig. 12 is an extended view of the periphery of the design-roll. Fig. 13 'is a view of a nished tag. Fig. 14 is an vend elevation of the machine, showing the shearing and punchingmechanism.

Like letters of reference 'indicate corresponding parts vthroughout the vseveral views.

In the embodiment-herein shown of this invention I provide a supporting-framework A, having the bed A. At one side this bed has a rearward extension A2, upon which the shearing and punching dies are mounted, and at the forward side, opposite said rearward extension, is provided with the two forwardlyprojecting arms A3, rigidly fixed to said bed,

. between the forward `ends of which arms is rotatably mounted a spool A4 for carrying a ribbon. of sheet metal of a width suitable for the tags to be made upon the machine.

l Guides A5 and Ai have slotted pieces A7, held in position by the screws A8, which slotted pieces are adjustable to accom modateV ribbons of any width.y

' Extending transversely across the bed A', aboutmidway'lof the body portion thereof, is a rotatable shaft B, mounted in the journalbearings B upon said bed. At the outerend `the shaft B carries the hand-wheel B2, provided fori'urning the shaft by hand when that is desirable. ries a tight and a loose pulley Band B4, respectively, also a cam B5, having two wing projec-- tions B thereon, oneofwhich projections is removable fora purpose to appear later herein.

The Vinner end of theshaft B is provided with the axial opening B7 for receiving the shaft B8 of a smaller diainetenwhich latter is held opening in the shaft B. The smaller shaft B8 carries the impressing-roll B10, having the design to be impressed in the face'of the tag raised upon itsperiphery. At each side of said roll the yokes B11 bear upon the upper side ofthe shaft B8 to hold it downward. Guides B12, vertically adjustable by means of the slotted openings B15 therein, and the bolts B14, extending through suitable openings in said yokes, are adapted to prevent the strip of metal Ypassing under the design-roll from lateral displacement. The lower edges of these guides B12 are cut away on the arc of a circle having the same diameter as the lower yokes B11 are themselves adjustable laterally to accommodate design rolls of different widths. This adjustment of said yokes is obtained by means ofthe transversely-elongated O'peningsB15 in the bed-plate A,through which openings the securin g machine-bolts B16 for'the yokes B11 extend, as will more clearly appear by reference to Fig. 10.

upon the idle running-shaft C', journaled in the vertically-adjustable bearing-blocks C2. These blocks are guided in the brackets C?, fixed to the under side of the bed A", and are susceptible of a vertical adjustment in said brackets by means ofthe set-screw C4, passing in position inv said axial opening by the set-` p j screw B9, passing through a suitable threaded C refers to said anvil-roll, which roll has a smooth periphery and is rigidly mounted fi* through a threaded opening in the lower side Within the bed the shaft B caror anvil roll,'to be later described. The l lloo of said bracket and bearing against the lower face of said bearing-blocks. By means of this vertical adjustment the distance between the design-roll B10 and the anvilroll C may be altered to produce any desired pressure upon the metal ribbon passing between said rolls.

A rock-shaft D is mounted in the bearingbrackets D', rigidly fixed to the upper face of the bed A, and at its inner end carries the arm D2, extending forwardly into a position to be engaged by the wings B0 of the cam B5 as said cam is rotated by the shaft, B. A curved spring D2, extending upwardly from the bed A', tends to hold the arm D2 in an elevated position and raise the end of the arm from Contact with the arm B5, excepting when the wings B0 thereof engage said arm. A second arm D3, also fixed rigidly to the rock-shaft D, extends rearwardly over the rear extension A2 of the bed A', and at its rear end is located a punching and shearing apparatus for automatically cutting the succession of tag-designs formed upon the face of the metal ribbon into individual tags; also, for punching holes in said tags,whereby they may be affixed to the structure for which they are intended. The rear end of the arm D3 is provided with an undercut recess D4, extending vertically through said arm and has in said recess a block D5, suitably perforated and screw-threaded near its middle to receive a vertically-extending bearing set- .screw D0. The arm D5 is also perforated and screw-threaded at its rear end-to receivethe adjusting set-screw DT for moving the block D5 in the recess D4.

At the rear end of the rear extension A2 of the bed A', I provide a base-block E for snpporting the shearing and punching dies, by means of which the metallic ribbon, upon the upper surface of which designs for tags have been impressed by the design roll B10, is severedintoindividualtags. Thisbase-block is made adjustable forward and back by means of two machine-bolts E', one on each side of the extension A2, projecting through elongated openings E2 inV said base-block E and entering screw-threaded openings in the under side of the bed A'. By means of machine-bolts E3 two upright posts E4 are rigidly secured to the base-block E, at opposite sides thereof, and guided upon these posts and free to slide np and down thereon is the head-block E5, cushioned in its downward movement by means of the twe coil-springs E0, su rrounding the posts E4. The central integral web portion E7 of the head-block E5 is provided atits lower middle portion with a boss E0, having a central recess E0 for receiving the stem E10 of the upper shearing and punching die. E11 is said upper shearing and punching die, held in position in the recess E0 ofthe boss E8 by means of the set-screw E12. The uppershearing and punching die E11 is provided with the shearing edge E10, formed integral with said die, and the punches E14, set in suitable sockets in the die and secured therein by means of the set-screws E15. E10 is the lower shearing and punching die, and E17is the seat there for, secured to the base-block E between the upright guide-posts El by means of the two machine-bolts E1Sand heldin place in an opening therein by means of the setscrews E10. A stripping-plate E20 for the shear E13 and punches E11 is raised slightly above the lower die,it being held in position upon the slotted guide-blocks E21 by means of the machinescrews E22. The guide-blocks E21 are made adjustable by means of their slotted openings E25, so that they may be set to accommodate different widths of ribbon.

In order to cause the shear E13 to descend upon the ribbon and sever it at a point midway between any two of the tag-designs impressed thereon, I provide a compensating device in the path of the ribbon between the impressing roll and said shear. This mechanism consists of two uprightbrackets F, secured to the bed A', one on either side of the path traversed by the ribbon. Each of these bracket-s is provided in its upright portion with a vertical slot F', through which slots eX- tends a compensating rod F2, provided with a nut F5 outside the bracket, at either end of said brackets F. The upper ends of the brackets are held apart by means of the square rod F4, having cylindrical screwthreaded shanks Where said rod extends through the upper part of the vertical slot E and provided with suitable nuts for said screw-threads. This square rod carries the double-endedflat spring F5, having bifurcated ends F0, between the bifurcations of which the ribbon passes and by which said ribbon is guided and held downward. By setting the compensating rod E2 higher or lower in the vertical slot F' the length of ribbon extending between the impressing-roll and the shear is made greater or less. The impressing-rolls rotate continuously, and when the shear descends upon the ribbon the advance of the rear end of the lat ter is stopped. The ribbon however, buckles upward in the compensating device until the die rises to free the rear end of the ribbon, when it assumes its normal position. The movement of the die is very quick, so that the movement of the ribbon is checked at the rear end of the machine only for an instant.

In operation a spool of metallic ribbon, of aluminium, brass, or other suitable material is placed upon the arms A2 at the forward end of the machine. A design-roll bearing onits surface the raised design desired to be impressed into the surface of the ribbon fixed on the shaft B8 is placed in the machine, the

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anvil-roll adjusted to the proper position by A means of the adjusting-screws Chaud the end of the ribbon fed between the design-roll and the anvil-roll by turning the hand-wheel B2. The design-roll B10 may bear on its periphery the design for two tags or if the design be a large one for only one tag. If the impressing-roll has only one design, one of the wings for two tags appears upon the face of the design-roll.

The position of the shearing and punching dies is adjusted by means of the machinebolts E', passing through the slotted openings E2 in the base-block E, and the position of the bearing-screw D6 is adjusted by turning the adjusting-screw D7 to bring the block D5 into its proper position. The compensating device is regulated to bring the proper point in the ribbon beneath the descending shear edge E13 at the proper moment by raising or lowering the compensating rod F2 in the slot F'. The ribbon is fed continuously through the machine, a succession of tag impressions made upon its upper surface, and at the rear end of the machine severed by the shearingdie into individual tags, and holes formed in the en d's of the tags for securing each tag to its object. Y

y It is apparent that the design to betransferred to the tags might be impressed in the peripheral face of the design-roll and that it then would be embossed upon or raised above the surface of the tag instead of being depressed therein, as described in the foregoing specification.

I claim as my iuvention- A 1. In a machine for making metal tags, in combination, a supporting-frame; a rotatable shaft journaled thereon; a design-roll adapted to be rotated by 'said shaft; ank anvil-roll; a shear; a cam on said rotatable shaft; a rockshaft journaled on said-frameintermediate the design-roll and the shear; an arm fixed to said rock-shaft extending into the path of said cam; andl a second arm fixed on said rockshaft adapted to operatesaid shear.

2. Ina machine for making'metal tags, in combination, a su pporting-frame; a rotatable shaft journaled thereon; a design-roll adapted to be rotated by said shaft; an anvil-roll; two guide-posts on said supporting-frame; a head adapted to move vertically upon said guide-posts; coil-springs surrounding said guide-posts for yieldingly supporting said head; a shear-die fixed in said head; a cor-responding shear-die supported on the frame; and means for actuating said shear by the rotation of said shaft.

3. In a machine for making metal tags, in combination, a supporting-frame a rotatable shaft journaled thereon; a design-roll adapted to be rotated by said shaft; ananvil-roll; two guide-posts on said supporting-frame; a head adapted to move vertically upon said guide-posts; coil-springsl surrounding said guideposts for yieldingly supporting said head; a shear-die fixed in said head; a corresponding shear-die supported on the frame; a rock-shaft for operating said shear; and a cam on said rotatable shaft for moving said rock-shaft.

4. In a machine for making metal tags, in combination, a sup porting-f rame; a rotatable shaft journaled thereon; a design-roll adapted to be rotated by said shaft; an anvil-roll; two guide-posts on said supporting-frame; a head adapted to move vertically upon said guide-posts; coil-springs surrounding said guide-posts for yieldingly supporting said head; Va shear-die fixed in said head; `a corresponding shear-die supported on the frame; a cam on said rotatable shaft; a rock-shaft; an arm fixed to said rock-shaft extendinginto the path of said cam; and a second arm fixed on said rock-shaft adapted to operate said shear.

5. In a machine for making metal tags, in combination, a supporting-frame; a designro1l; an anvil-roll; a shear; means for rotating the design-roll land for actuating the shear;,and a compensating device for themetallic ribbon from which the tags are made, located in the path of said ribbon between the-design-roll and the shear,which compensating device comprises an upright bracket and a vvertically-adjustable rod over which the metallic ribbon runs.

6. Ina machine for making metal tags, in combination, a su pporting-frame a rotatable shaft journaled thereon; a design-roll adapted toy be rotated by said shaft; an anvil-roll; means for adj ustin g the anvil-roll toward and from said design-roll a spool for carrying the metallic ribbon from which the tags are to be made; a guide for directing said ribbon between said design-roll and said anvil-roll; a

shear for cutting said ribbn into tag lengths;

and a compensating device for controlling the presentation of the metallic ribbon to the shear.

'7. In a machine for making metal tags; in

shaft 'journaled thereon; a cam fixed on said shaft; a design-rolladapted to be-rotated by said shaft; an anvil-roll; two bearing-yokes for holding said design -roll from upward movement; means fork adjusting said anvilroll toward and from said design-roll a rockshaft having an arm extending into the path of 'said cam a shear; said rock-shaft also having an arm adapted to operate said shear; and a compensating device for the metallic ribbon from which the tags are to be made, located in the path of said ribbon between the design-roll and the shear.

8. In a machine for making metal tags, in combination, a supporting-frame; a bed; a

'rotatable shaft journaled on said bed, said shaft having a wing-cam fixed thereon, alsol having an axial recess in its inner end; a shaft secured in said recess; two yokes secured tov ward and from the design-roll; a shear on said supporting-frame; a spring for holding combination, a supporting-frame a rotatable i IIO the upper die elevated; a rock-shaft mounted upon the supporting-frame, said rock-shaft having one arm projecting into the path of said cam, and a second arm for actuating said shear; and a compensating device for the metallic ribbon from which the tags are to be made, which compensating device comprises an upright bracket and a vertically-adjustable rod over which the metallic ribbon runs in its passage from the design-roll to the shear.

' 9. In a machine for making metal tags, in combination, a supporting-frame; a designroll; an anvil-roll; two guide-posts on said supporting-frame; a head adapted to move vertically upon said guide-posts; coil-springs surrounding said guide-posts for yieldingly supporting said head; a shear-die fixed in said head; a corresponding shear-die supported on the frame; and means for operating said shear and for rotating the design-roll.

10. In a machine for making metal tags, in combination, a supporting-frame; a rotatable shaft journaled thereon; a design-roll adapted to be rotated by said shaft; an anvil-roll; two guide-posts on said supporting-traine; a head adapted to move vertically upon said guide-posts; coil-springs surrounding said guide-posts for yieldingly supporting said head; a shear-die fixed in said head; a corresponding shear-die supported on the frame; a cam on said rotatable shaft; a rock-shaft; an arm fixed to said rock-shaft extending into the path of said cam; and a second arm fixed on said rock-shaft adapted. to operate said shear.

11. In a machine for making metal tags, in combination, a supporting-frame; a designroll; an anvil-roll; a base-block mounted on the supporting-frame; means for adjusting the base-block longitudinally of said frame; two guide-posts extending upward from said base-block; coil-springs surrounding said upright posts; a head adapted to move vertically upon said guide-posts; a shear-die fixed in said head; a corresponding shear-die supported by said base-block; a rock-shaft adapted to operate said shear; a cam for moving said rock-shaft; and means for rotating the design-roll and said cam.

12. In a machine for making metal tags, in combination, a supporting-frame; a designroll; an anvil-roll; a shear; means for rotating the design-roll and for actuating the shear; and a compensating device for the metallic ribbon from which the tags are to be made, which compensating device comprises an upright bracket and a vertically-adj ustable compensating rod over which the metallic ribbon runs in its passage from the design-roll to the shear.

13. In a machine for making metal tags, in combination, a supporting-frame; a designroll; an anvil-roll; a shear; a spring for holding the shear elevated; a rotatable cam; a rock-shaft journaled on said frame intermediate the design-roll and the shear; an arm fixed to said rock-shaft adapted to engage said cam; and a second arm fixed to said rockshaft adapted to operate said shear.

14:. In a machine for making metal tags, in combination, a supporting-frame; a designroll; an anvil-roll; a guide forpassing the metallic ribbon from which the tags are to be made between said rolls; a shaft for rotating the design-roll; a cam fixed on said shaft; a

shear; a rock-shaft having an arm adapted to engage said cam and a second arm adapted to operate said shear; a compensating device in the path of said metallic ribbon between the rolls and the shear, which compensating device comprises an upright bracket and a vertically-adjnstable rod; and means for rotating said first-mentioned shaft.

15. In a machine for making metal tags, in combination, a supporting-f rame a rotatable shaft journaled thereon; a design-roll adapted to be rotated by said shaft; an anvil-roll; means for adjusting the anvil-roll toward and from said design-roll; two yokes for holding the design roll from upward movement; means for adjusting said yokes longitudinally of said shaft; a guide on each of said yokes for holding the metallic ribbon from Which the tags are to be made between said rolls; a guide on the supporting-frame for directing said ribbon to said rolls; a spool for supportingsaid ribbon; a shear; arock-shaft; an arm fixed on said rock-shaft; a rotatable cam for moving said arm; a second arm xed on said shaft for operating said shear; and a compensating device for the metallic ribbon, located in the path of said ribbon between the designroll and the shear.

FREDERICK C. CROVE.

lVit nesses:

L. L. MILLER, GEO. L. CHINDAI-IL.

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